Next time you see him, congratulate Josh for doing pretty well in his first foil tournament.  Staying true to his French roots, he even used his French grip!

As a reminder, there is no fencing this Thursday.  Instead, wear your fat pants and enjoy your tryptophan-induced stupor.  David will be teaching this Saturday.

In the meantime, remember that we have now studied three takings of the steel (prises de fer):

1. le croisé, used when the opponent’s hand is at or a little above his shoulder;
2. the bind (le liement), also used when the opponent’s hand is at or a little above his shoulder, and
3. the opposition, used when the hand is below the opponent’s shoulder.

And, finally, here’s a little fencing history:  Denis Diderot was an Enlightenment thinker and is most famously known for his Encyclopédie, a general encyclopedia published in France in the 1700s.  (Some of the Enlightenment’s best thinkers contributed to the Encyclopédie.)  The Encyclopédie contained an entry titled “Thirty Principles of Fencing.”  Here are a few of the entries.

• The widest movements expose more of your body to the enemy.
• When one breaks measure, it is useless to parry.
• If one does not parry the final thrust, one should break measure.
• When the enemy breaks the measure on your attack, pursue him with haste but with prudence.
• When the enemy himself breaks measure, do not pursue him because he wants to draw you forward.

Happy Thanksgiving!